Sara on De Lima, Diokno in House prosecution team: ‘Understandable’

Metro Manila, Philippines - Vice President Sara Duterte said on Saturday, May 17, it was understandable that presumptive Congress members Leila de Lima and Chel Diokno are likely to join the House prosecution team for her looming impeachment trial.

In an interview in Davao City, Duterte said De Lima and Diokno have openly opposed her family.

“They’ve been vocal anti-Duterte since birth. Yes. In fact, wala pa sa mapa si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte to become president ay anti-Duterte na talaga si Sec. de Lima,” she said.

[Translation: They’ve been vocal anti-Duterte since birth. Yes. In fact, even before former President Rodrigo Duterte was in the picture to become president, Secretary De Lima was already anti-Duterte.]

De Lima spent almost seven years in detention over drug cases filed by the Duterte administration. She was acquitted of all three charges.

The former senator and Diokno are first nominees of Mamamayang Liberal and Akbayan party-lists, respectively, which secured seats in the House of Representatives in the incoming 20th Congress.

De Lima, former justice chief of the Aquino administration, earlier said her decision to accept the invitation to join the prosecution team stemmed “from a place of duty and principle.” Diokno told NewsWatch Plus the impeachment trial would be an opportunity to hold those in power accountable.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte for betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption, among others, in February in particular her controversial budget spending and threats to the president’s family.

“I want a bloodbath”

Meanwhile, the vice president said her lawyers are working at “full throttle” to prepare for the trial.

“Of course they would not want a trial as lawyers…. But sinabihan ko na rin talaga sila, really, I truly want a trial because I want a bloodbath,” Duterte said.

Asked about her expectations after new senators are elected, the vice president said she is at peace regardless of the outcome of her trial. The newly elected lawmakers with a six-year term will join the other 12 sitting senators whose tenure will end in 2028 as judges.

“Wala akong expectations of acquittal or guilty verdict. Basta sa akin lang ay tinanggap ko na kung ano ang magiging verdict. Whether guilty man or acquittal, I’m already at peace,” she said, adding it is “wrong to start counting votes” at this point.

Five candidates endorsed by the vice president won in the Senate race.